Who's No.1? Right now, it's flavor of the month

From Westwood to Donald to Mickelson, they all have flaws

Short of simply not playing, Lee Westwood may now claim the standard for most dubious takeover of golf's No.1 ranking.

Who figured the throne awaited in Jakarta?

The English pro captured the Indonesian Masters, where he was the only entrant ranked among the world's top 80. Fans may not have realized an Indonesian Masters exists had Westwood not been tweeting from there.

Luke Donald could have claimed No.1 by winning his Heritage playoff against Brandt Snedeker — a far more appealing coronation. Instead, his fortune ran out after missing the green three times in his final four holes.

"I've still got some time on my side," Donald told reporters after the playoff. And he does — wins this week in New Orleans or at The Players Championship would be just as effective.

Or Martin Kaymer could regain the throne by winning The Players. Or Phil Mickelson could win next week's Wells Fargo Championship. That is, if Westwood doesn't win again this week in South Korea.

If so, that would be the first victory by anyone from the No.1 position in 18 months — since Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters right before his crackup on the streets of Isleworth.

That's how jumbled the race is these days. Whether that's a good thing is a matter of opinion.

"I think it's a fun time in golf," Donald said. "Now it's a little bit more of a race and just a little added thing to the side that's kind of fun for the spectators."

Perhaps. Right now the spectators are having more fun picking apart the No.1 candidates.

Westwood isn't the first man to ascend to No.1 without winning a major. But his portfolio is the slimmest of anyone who has held the scepter.

Fred Couples and David Duval at least had won The Players by the time they reached the top. Ian Woosnam had won a World Match Play – and validated his rank with a Masters win two weeks into his reign.

Westwood has been strong in recent majors – five top-3 finishes in his past 12 – but not yet a winner. Nor has he won a World Golf Championships event. He has no other top-10s this year, either on U.S. soil or his home European Tour.

Last week's win found him three shots ahead of Thongchai Jaidee, the only other top-100 entrant. The rest of the top eight: Marcus Both, Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Siddikur Rahman, Hyun-bin Park, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prayad Marksaeng.

Donald hasn't won a major, either, but at least has February's WGC Match Play to his name. Kaymer's time as No.1 featured just one top-10 finish, plus a missed Masters cut. Mickelson has one win since last year's Masters – frittering at least a dozen chances to grab the ring.

Based on current form, Donald probably deserves the No.1 tag more than the rest. Really, though, he's just the flavor of the month.